A Tulsa man in custody is accused of abusing more than 20 animals in his home.
Police said it's another case of animal hoarding, the third in the past month. But officers said there's something different about this one.
Anxiety and fear is all these dogs seem to have known based on the way they are reacting to those who saved them.
Each suffered from severe mange, ticks, and showing bones. It's not hard to imagine the type of environment these animals were rescued from.
"Eighteen dogs chained up on 3 foot chains, the water was dirty, no food was out with them," Deputy Nathan Goodacre said.
Carrie Suns, a volunteer at the Tulsa Humane Society, and member of the Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corp. said dogs had injuries to their ears and hind ends. She said they were very malnourished.
In total, 18 dogs, two puppies and a cat were rescued from the North Tulsa home. One dog was found dead on the property, along with what authorities said appeared to be a "pet cemetery."
Fake flowers scattered across the lawn marked the graves.
Roy Wright was arrested and charged with animal cruelty, and this isn't his first run-in with the law.
"He has a history, a past history of doing this," Goodacre said. "I don't know that he'll ever stop."
As deputies investigate, the animals remain at an emergency shelter in Bixby.
"Tomorrow morning starting at 9 o'clock our veterinarian will be on-site and they will start going through medical evaluation and treatment for those that need it," Suns said.
Combined with animals from a hoarding situation last week, the Humane Society is currently housing nearly 100 dogs at their emergency shelter.
The Humane Society is in desperate need of donations. To find out how you can help, visit their website at http://www.tulsapets.com/#!donate/ctzx
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